Lime for yard

super99 · Apr 17, 2020

We have lived here since 2002, I had a sand hill leveled off where we put the house. I have a very poor yard, places that grass won't grow but the weeds will. I have tried adding fertilizer, overseeding in the fall and spring with poor results. Best thing to do would be to tear it all up and start over, but with trees etc in yard there isn't a lot of room to get a tractor and disk in there. Anyhow, I think it would help to lime it. I have tried getting bags of garden lime at Menards, but it is like powder and doesn't go thru my spreader worth a darn. Besides taking my pickup to the quarry and getting a 1/2 ton at a time to spread, any suggestions on liming my yard? Too many trees to get a Big A in there. Thanks, Chris

Traditional Farmer · Apr 17, 2020

You buy granulated lime that will most likely go thru your spreader,costs a little more than the powdered lime.A product called Planters II will mineralize your lawn and make a big difference.

marloweg · Apr 17, 2020

get some good black dirt

Dave BN · Apr 17, 2020

What would it cost to buy sod? I have seen sucessful lawns grown in sand and black dirt formed over time. All it takes lots of water.

Dave

muleman51 · Apr 17, 2020

The first thing to do is get a soil test. Typically grass doesn't need much lime. But you will never know unless you soil test. Black dirt is probably your best bet and compost. Couple loads of manure but somehow that isn't real well accepted around the house.

Bob N.Y. · Apr 17, 2020

There probably isn't enough organic matter in the sand to support plant growth.

c.oawright · Apr 17, 2020

Get soil samples and take to your county agriculture agent. They will send them off and the analysis will tell you what needs to be added. Cost is minimal. Most lawn care places or Ag stores carry pelleted lime that spreads well . You may want to check the areas that grow little grass for grubs. Several types of grubs will decimate a lawn in a hurry.

Tom in TN · Apr 17, 2020

Super,

I, too, would recommend a soil test, but if you decide to spread lime, the cost should be about this much. Columbia Farm Supply, in Columbia, TN, sells pelletized lime in 40 pound bags for $4.19 per bag. Spreads easily in a drop spreader or broadcast spreader.

Good luck with your lawn. I always tell people that we don't have a lawn, we just have a yard.

Tom in TN

jacksun65 · Apr 17, 2020

I lived in Florida so I know sand LOL. If you want grass you are going to have to use sod.

DoubleR · Apr 17, 2020

Get a soil test. Maybe gets some good topsoil or black dirt to mix in or just topdress your current lawn and reseed. If you want lime you can get granular lime dumped in your truck at your local elevator or Ag fertilizer supplier which will be cheaper than buying by the bag. Just a couple of suggestions you may want to consider.

MtMan · Apr 17, 2020

First get a soil sample and have it tested. I know that fertilizer doesn't work if the PH in your soil is to low. I don't' know where you live but mushroom compost added to your soil will help to give it more organic texture to help hold moisture that's needed to grow grass. My soil is a gravel base along a creek and it will grow grass with the correct adding of nutrients from lime and fertilizer. Leaving the grass clippings as long as they are not to thick helps also.

Brian G. NY · Apr 17, 2020

(quoted from post at 13:37:33 04/17/20) There probably isn't enough organic matter in the sand to support plant growth.

Correct......my septic system required an evaporation "mound" made of special sand on which little grass grew.
Over a period of years the grass clippings and chopped leaves gave
the soil some "body" and I limed it heavy once.
When I chopped my leaves, I would intentionally direct them to that area and by the time they got there they were chopped really finely.
Grass grows real nice there now.
' course you probably don't want to stretch it out over 15 or 20 years like I did.

MJMJ · Apr 17, 2020

(quoted from post at 08:37:33 04/17/20) There probably isn't enough organic matter in the sand to support plant growth.

I would guess this is exactly the issue. A lot of times when houses are built, those doing the excavation don't plan or don't care about putting the top soil to the side and making sure it's evenly spread back over the area once construction is over. They just pretend dirt is dirt.
Soil test should verify if this is the case. If it is, top soil is what you need.

gene bender · Apr 17, 2020

you need soil lime will not grow grass but soil sure does start with small area to prove it to yourswelf

sourgum · Apr 17, 2020

T S C store usually has pellet lime which would run thru a seeder or spreader. Spread at much lower rate then quarry ag lime. Pellet lime may not need more than 100 - 200 lbs / acre if that. We don"t know the existing soil pH so hard to say. Some organic matter ( manure ) or top dirt would be needed to have good grass.

MJMJ · Apr 17, 2020

Pellet lime isn't put on at a different rate than ag lime, assuming equal CCE ratings. It's still just lime.

stonerock · Apr 17, 2020

don't guess get a soil sample so you wont waste money

showcrop · Apr 17, 2020

If it is sand the problem is not acid sand, it is lack of moisture. You need to add tilth. A good way to do that is with composted manure.

Geo-TH,In · Apr 18, 2020

I don't like doing anything to my yard. That's why I'm a fan of zoysia. It looks better than weeds and can survive drought.

Lime for yard

super99

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Traditional Farmer

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marloweg

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Dave BN

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muleman51

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Bob N.Y.

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c.oawright

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Tom in TN

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jacksun65

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DoubleR

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MtMan

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Brian G. NY

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MJMJ

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gene bender

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sourgum

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MJMJ

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stonerock

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showcrop

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Geo-TH,In

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